Navi Mumbai: A 21-year-old woman was found brutally murdered at a residency lodge in Lonere, located along the Mumbai-Goa highway in Mangaon taluka of Raigad district, on the afternoon of April 20.
Case Registered Under Multiple Sections
A case has been filed under BNS sections for murder along with rape, and under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Police said the woman was found naked and had been assaulted with a sickle on her head.
Suspect Detained
The suspect, identified as Anis Mohammad Khan Maldar (38), hails from Talavade village in Lanja taluka, Ratnagiri district. He has been detained. Maldar had checked into the lodge alone on April 19, and the victim had gone to meet him the following morning.
In 2021, after Maldar moved to Mumbra, he was arrested by Thane police for allegedly kidnapping and murdering his 8-year-old daughter. However, he was acquitted as the prosecution failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
Investigation Underway
Police are probing how the accused befriended the victim. A police inspector privy to the case said that while checking in alone on Sunday, Maldar provided a copy of his Aadhaar card, which helped police identify him. The crime was discovered by housekeeping staff after the accused had checked out.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to uncover further details.
